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August 29th 1916 

France

 

                        Dear Mrs Jones,

                                                I do not think that I ever had the pleasure of meeting you when I lived at Oswestry in the year 1909, but I knew lots of people there.  If you know Dr Beresford or Dr Cartwright they will tell you all about me, as I was their assistant for along time.

 

I am writing to you because I was a great friend of your son Raymond.  We were in the same Field Ambulance, the 129th and I am in it still.  Raymond and I had many good days together and everybody liked him.  He was universally popular with officers and men and his death cast a gloom over the whole medical service of the division.

 

You know the story, of course, of how he came to be killed.  He was told there were a lot of wounded in a particularly dangerous place, so he set off with bandages and dressings to do what he could to help the poor wounded men, thus he got hit and I believe died very quickly afterwards.

 

It is very sad and I cannot tell you how I sympathise with you in your trouble.  There is some consolation, however, to think of the glorious Death, which he died.  Could here be a fine example of self-sacrifice?  A soldier goes forwards to kill or be killed – the doctor usually stays behind to dress the wounded who are brought back to him, but Raymond deliberately went forward to face death – that perchance he might be able to save a life – or to ease some tortured soldiers’ suffering. 

 

I saw him after he was killed and his face was quite peaceful and calm, as though he knew he had done his duty and was content to pay the terrible price.  I saw afterwards the cross which was the most beautiful cross I have ever seen out here – I have seen many alas!  How many!  Everyone that could get to his funeral went to it.  I regret that I could not go owing to most urgent work and everyone misses him, but no one misses him more than I do – for I have lost a kind friend who was indeed on of the heroes of England.

 

You always have my deepest sympathy.

 

Yours truly,

D.A.Taylor. Lieut. R.A.M.C.

 

- - -

 

Part of letter about Uncle Raymond, Dr Raymond Jones, following his death at the Battle of the Somme July, 10th 1916.  From his Batman to my grandfather Major Edgar Jones.

 

......commenced at 4 A.M. on the 10th and it was not long before the wounded came pouring in. Your brother took charge of the stretcher-bearers and attended many cases.  After going across the open to within 20 yards of the wood, where he fell within 20 yards of the wood, with bullet through the right lung and one through the left thigh.

 

I bandaged him up and with help carried him to shelter of the wood, where he died in about 20 minutes.  We failed to carry the body from there until the following day, as there was such a large number of wounded.

 

He is buried in a British cemetery in a little village behind the line, the name of which you may soon learn.  There is one consolation the whole family may derive from his death and that is he gave his life for others nobly and fearlessly.  We all mourn his loss greatly, he was so kind and thoughtful to all of us especially myself as I had served him as a servant from the time we were in England.  Accept my sympathy in your great loss. 

 

I am your obedient servant.

Jas. R Jones  Pte 48819

 

- - -

 

 

Part of letter about Uncle Raymond’s death.

Part is lost

 

“You might tell him (Major Edgar Jones) how popular his brother was with all ranks and how gallantly he met his death.

 

Our Stretcher bearers came into our advanced post with the news that hundreds of wounded ,serious cases were lying in the wood and could not be brought in for some time.  As soon as Jones heard this, at about 4.30.A.M., he filled his pockets with bandages and went to find them.  Over a small ridge and down to the edge of the wood across about 40 yards of open, in which it seemed impossible for anything to live.

 

He never found his goal, he was killed before he reached the wood.  I am going tomorrow by motor car to little wayside cemetery where we buried Jones, to stick up an oak cross, suitably inscribed on his grave:

 

“Lieut. Raymond Jones, R.A.M.C.

Formerly of Cardiff, Practising here.”

- - -

 

 

From Rev. James Evans, C.F.

129th F.A.

38th Division, B.E.F.

11.7.16

Dear Mr Jones,

 

                        It is with profound sorrow I write to you this letter.  You will probably have heard from the War office that your brother, Lt Raymond Jones, R.A.M.C. was killed in action yesterday in the great battle.  He was caught by a machine gun while dressing the wounded in the thick of it.

 

            I cannot express to you the sadness of all of his fellow officers as well as the men at this loss.

 

            Today we laid him to rest in a British cemetery.  The assistant A.D.M.S. (major Shearing), Col. Miles and Roberts and others attended.  I had the sad duty of officiate.  His grave is near to Mametz in the village of Carnoy and a cross will be erected …

 

Further portion of this letter is lost

 

 

 

Another portion of a letter.

 

… I mention these details because I think you make like to have them.  Raymond, filling his pocket with bandages went fearlessly over a ridge and down across the open to a wood under awful fire, to carry succour to the seriously wounded who could not be carried in by our stretcher bearers.  It was a grand deed and no doubt had he bee spared to us he would have been decorated.  In his life he was to me a close companion and in his death to us all, a grand example.  I hope some day to make your personal acquaintance.  In the meantime I trust that the knowledge you already have of the way Raymond died, may be to you and your aged mother and all the family some consolation in your great sorrow,

 

Yours very sincerely,

F. Saviour Lees.

Continue on page five

 

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